Polonius Old Fool Essay

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In the play Hamlet, written by William Shakespeare, Polonius is interpreted in two different ways. Some see him as a senile old fool, others see him as a shrewd and worldly old man. It is proven that Polonius is in fact a senile old fool because of his acts of selfishness. He puts greater importance on his appearance and does everything he can to make himself look good. We see this in various conversations Polonius has with characters in Act 1 and Act 2.
Polonius first shows his selfish act while talking to his son Laertes before he leaves for Paris.
“Look thou character. Give thy thoughts no tongue,
Nor any unproportioned thought his act.
Be thou familiar but by no means vulgar.
Those friends thou hast, and their adoption tried,
Grapple them unto thy soul with hoops of steel, …show more content…
Beware
Of entrance to a quarrel, but being in,
Bear ’t that th' opposèd may beware of thee.
Give every man thy ear but few thy voice” (1.3.60-69).
Polonius gives many rules to Laertes strictly telling him how he should act as a man and how he should act towards society. He selfishly tells his son to listen to many people but talk to few, suggesting that he shouldn’t associate himself with friends while he is away at school. Polonius does this to protect his appearance, he is worried about his reputation along with his family’s reputation. By doing this one could say that Polonius is shrewd, but in reality Polonius doesn’t care about what Laertes wants or what his feelings are towards his advice. Polonius only gives Laertes this advice to protect himself.

After the conversation between Polonius and Laertes, Polonius pulls another act of selfishness.
“Marry, well said, very well said. Look you, sir,
Inquire me first what Danskers are in Paris,
And how, and who, what means, and where they
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